Will dug his fingers into the back of Sonny's neck. His lips worked against Sonny's, grinding into his lap.

Buzz Buzz Buzz

"Don't answer that," Will ordered Sonny. He pressed their lips back together.

"Expecting an important call," Sonny argued.

"No," Will whined. It felt like it had been ages since they had sex.

Sonny detangled himself from Will. He reached for the bedside table and his vibrating phone.

"Hello?" Sonny answered.

Will glared at Sonny, licking over his swollen lips.

Sonny mouthed the word, "Sorry," to Will.

Will watched as Sonny sat up straighter, engaged in the conversation. With a huff, Will rolled out of bed.

Sonny's eyes tracked Will's movements. He wanted to be with Will more than anything. But this phone call was going to lead to big things.

Will scowled at Sonny for a moment before pursing his lips. Waiting until he knew Sonny was watching him, Will slowly lifted his sleep shirt over his head.

"Well, first of all," Sonny began. "This would be a great opportunity because…"

Sonny trailed off as Will disrobed.

Will pushed off his pajama bottoms and underwear in one movement. He kicked them both in Sonny's direction.

Standing before Sonny, completely naked, Will hoped that would motivate Sonny.

"Um, uh," Sonny stared at Will without blinking.

"First of all?" the voice over the line repeated.

"Uh," Sonny shook his head. "Right, right. First of all…"

Will rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. He slunk towards the bathroom, shoulders hunching together.

'Damnit,' Sonny rubbed his forehead. 'Why does this always happen?'

Over the past few weeks, Sonny and Will had spent little time together, alone time. Sonny was so exhausted from the long hours at the club. Most of the time he would come home, collapse on the couch, spend a few minutes with Ari before her bedtime, and fall asleep. Will spent almost all his time at the pub or working on his mysterious article.

Will had been working on it for so long Sonny was beginning to think it wasn't real.

'And when we finally have time alone,' Sonny sighed. 'I stop it for business. Great.'

Will let the warm water fall over him, eyes closed. He just wanted to be with his husband. He didn't think it was that much to ask. The two hadn't been intimate since Christmas, a few days ago. It might not seem like a long time to others but it was for them.

When Sonny got that ornament Will felt his heart burst. Everything about that night had been perfect. The strangeness of their relationship drifted away for the holidays. But now it was back.

'And I don't know how much more of this I can take,' Will thought with a sigh. 'I just want things to be normal.'

Will stepped out of the shower just as Sonny walked into the bathroom.

"Hey," Sonny said, taking off his clothes. "I was hoping you'd still be in there."

"I can only wait so long," Will mumbled.

Will grabbed his towel, covering himself. He didn't feel comfortable being naked right now. He knew Sonny didn't mean to make him uneasy but he did. Being ignored while completely naked got to Will.

'I need to go to the gym,' Will decided. 'Maybe then I'd be more enticing than a phone call.'

"I thought that," Sonny reached out to touch Will's arm.

Will moved out of the way and towards the door.

"I have to get to work," Will stated.

"For it to be work you have to get paid," Sonny grumbled under his breath.

Will paused momentarily before slamming the bathroom door behind him.

'Fuck,' Sonny closed his eyes, gritting his teeth.

Will walked down the hallway, eyes on the floor.

'I hate this tile,' Will realized. 'I hate this tile and the clinical walls and the sterile scent. I hate hospitals.'

Unfortunately, Paul chose this location for their next meeting. Kayla had been bugging Will to meet their silent backer. Reluctantly, Paul finally agreed.

After Paul's physical therapy session they would be meeting with Kayla to go over a few things. So far, Paul had offered a few thousand dollars in basic upgrades. New kitchen equipment, servicing the appliances that could be saved, basic things.

Will had lofty dreams though. He would chat with Paul for hours on end about his ideas for the pub. Paul would sit back and laugh, egging Will on.

Kayla was afraid that despite the contract in place, Paul was not as honest as he appeared. Eventually she assumed Paul would pull something on them.

Will hoped this meeting proved that Paul was trustworthy.

'Now,' Will examined the room numbers. '215, 217, where's 221?'

"I'm sorry, Mr. Narita," Dr. Daniel Jonas explained. "I wish I had better news."

"This has to be a mistake," Paul mumbled. "This, this can't happen."

Daniel gestured to the x-ray.

"It's not a mistake," Daniel reiterated. "I'm afraid your arm didn't heal properly."

"So, go in there and fix it," Paul hissed through clenched teeth.

"I can't authorize that," Daniel shook his head. "The damage has already been done."

"No," Paul clenched his fists. A sharp pain shot up his arm.

"Paul," Daniel sighed. "I know this is tough. I can recommend a therap-,"

"Don't," Paul urged. "Do not tell me that. There isn't, this isn't happening."

"I know this is hard to comprehend," Daniel nodded. "It'll-,"

"Get out!" Paul yelled.

"I-," Daniel tried.

"Out!" Paul screamed again.

Daniel walked out with a nod.

Paul ran his hands through his hair in disbelief. He took a few deep breaths before grabbing the nearest object and throwing it at the wall with a shout.

Will paused when he saw Daniel walking out of room 221.

'Why would a doctor go to Paul's therapy session?' Will wondered.

That was when he heard a loud crash.

With a frown, Will pulled open the door.

"Paul?" Will asked in concern.

Paul threw a skeletal diagram, crying out when it pained his arm.

"Fuck!" Paul shouted.

"What-?" Will rushed to Paul's side. "Paul, what happened?"

"Get out of here," Paul ordered.

"Are you hurt? Should I get Dr. Jonas back in here?" Will questioned.

"No, no doctor," Paul growled. "I never want to see another doctor again!"

"Paul?" Will delicately put his hand on Paul's good shoulder. "What happened? I thought you were going to have therapy today."

"I did what you suggested," Paul spat out. "I had them check my arm again."

"And?" Will asked even though he already knew the answer.

"It's fucked beyond repair," Paul stated viciously. "I'm done, okay? It's over. Everything is over."

"Oh, god," Will whispered. "Paul."

"Don't," Paul barred his teeth. "Don't say anything. I don't want to hear that pity in your voice."

"It's not pity," Will insisted. "I care about you. You know that."

Paul shook his head.

"It's all over," Paul closed his eyes. "I-everything I've worked my whole life for. It's all over."

"You don't know that," Will tried to say.

"Oh, I don't?" Paul pressed his back against the wall and slid to the floor. "How the fuck am I gonna pitch without my arm?!"

Will sat down next to Paul.

"It's okay," Will hesitated before putting his arm around Paul.

"No, it's not," Paul blinked away tears. "It's never gonna be okay."

"Just let it out," Will pleaded. "Let it out."

Paul shook his head.

"I've got you," Will promised.

Paul's lower lip trembled and his chest constricted.

Will held Paul in a tight hug by the time the first tear fell.

When Sonny got out of the bathroom, Will and Ari had already left for the day.

Sonny checked his phone's banking app and winced.

'Fuck,' Sonny thought. 'Fuck, fuck, fuck.'

Sonny didn't realize he had spent so much money so quickly. All the changes to TBD were running smoothly. But to make money you had to spend money.

When TBD wasn't making money, Sonny used his. Sure, he could and maybe should have gone to Chad. Sonny still remembered the argument he had with Chad though. When they first realized how bad things got with the club. Chad blamed Sonny for the club failing. Sonny was determined to fix it himself.

'I just have to make sure Will doesn't find out about the money,' Sonny closed his eyes. 'Along with everything else I'm keeping from him.'

Sonny worried that it became almost routine for him now, hiding things from Will.

Kayla poked her head out of her office.

"Ah, Daniel," Kayla said once she spotted him. "Did I see Will walking down the hallway?"

"Yeah," Daniel revealed. "Actually, I saw him going into the room at the end of the hall."

"Is there a patient in there?" Kayla questioned.

"Yes," Daniel confirmed. "I had to give him bad news actually."

"Huh," Kayla frowned. "Thanks."

Kayla couldn't think of anyone that Will would be seeing in the hospital. She knew their meeting with the investor was in an hour but Will didn't need to be so early.

'The only one Will would see would be Sonny,' Kayla realized. She hurried down the hall, concerned something had happened.

Will petted against the back of Paul's head. His fingers ran through the short, thick hair soothingly.

"It's alright," Will assured Paul. "Let it out."

Paul sniffled, chest heaving. He didn't intend to sob on Will's shoulder but he couldn't help it. Will understood him, understood what this meant.

"Sorry," Paul hiccupped.

"It's fine," Will dismissed. "I'm here for you."

Paul held onto Will tightly. He buried his face against Will's neck. Any other time, Paul would use the situation to his advantage. But not now. He was too devastated.

The door opened slightly. Kayla pusher her head inside.

"Will, is everything alright?" Kayla asked.

Kayla paused when she didn't recognize the man clinging to her nephew.

"Uh…?" Kayla looked at Will and the man strangely.

Paul pulled away from Will. He stood up and turned his back to this new doctor, wiping his eyes.

"Yeah," Will pushed himself up. "Everything's fine."

"Who is this?" Kayla demanded. She looked between the man and Will. The man that wasn't Will's husband.

Paul, red-eyed yet more composed, turned around to face the woman.

"I'm Paul," Paul stuck out his hand.

"Aunt Kayla," Will explained. "This is our investor. He just got some bad news. I was helping him out."

"I bet," Kayla mumbled shaking Paul's hand. "It's nice to meet you."

"I think we should probably move our meeting," Will suggested. "I don't think Paul's in the mood right now."

"Not really," Paul pressed his lips together, head bowed.

"That's understandable," Kayla cleared her throat. "I'm sorry to barge in on you. I thought Will was in here with, uh, someone else."

"It's fine," Paul muttered. "I'm sorry. Do you think we can reschedule our meeting?"

"Of course," Kayla agreed. "Will can set something up for us all."

"Do you want me to take you back to your hotel?" Will asked Paul.

"You don't have to," Paul shook his head. "I'll be fine."

"No," Will insisted. "I can go with you."

"Uh," Kayla grabbed Will's arm when he walked past her. "A word, real quick."

"I'll meet you at the elevator," Will told a quiet Paul.

"What is it?" Will looked at his aunt.

"What exactly did I walk in on?" Kayla demanded.

"What do you mean?" Will tilted his head.

"That," Kayla pointed to where Will and Paul were huddled on the floor. "That looked like more than a comforting pat on the back."

"It was nothing," Will shrugged. "I should really-,"

"No," Kayla grabbed Will's arm and pulled him back again. "What is going on with you?"

"Paul's my friend and he just got devastating news," Will implored. "I need to be there for him."

"Need or want?" Kayla let go of Will's arm.

"I will explain things the next time we can meet with him," Will argued. "But now I need to go."

"I hope you know what you're doing," Kayla called out to Will.

'God, I hope he knows,' Kayla shook her head.

"What's going to happen now?" Will asked as he walked into Paul's hotel room.

"I don't know," Paul morosely replied.

Paul sank onto the edge of his bed and flopped backwards.

Will awkwardly shifted from one foot to the other. He didn't know what to do, how to help. Taking his jacket off, Will tossed it towards the table.

Will remembered one of the things Paul said during their meetings in this hotel room.

Picking up the hotel phone, Will pushed the button for room service.

"Yeah, hi, can you send up some green tea?" Will asked. "Uh huh, thanks."

Will gingerly sat next to Paul on the bed. He kept a fair bit of distance between them. His aunt's words ran through his head.

'I'm just comforting him,' Will rationalized. 'I would do the same for Chad or T or Gabi. It doesn't mean anything.'

Paul covered his face with his hands.

"My entire life is over," Paul whispered, realization dawning on him.

"Paul," Will answered.

"It is," Paul shook his head. His breathing started to pick up. "My career, everything. It's all gone. Oh god."

Paul began to hyperventilate.

"Hey," Will pulled Paul into a sitting position. "Come on, breathe."

Will patted Paul's back as Paul put his head between his knees.

"Oh god," Paul repeated. "Oh god, everything is over."

"Not everything," Will countered. "You still have lots you can offer the world."

"Like what?" Paul hissed. "Baseball is everything to me. It's all I know. My entire world is centered around baseball. I-this can't be happening. Oh, god."

"Shh," Will hushed. "It's going to be okay. I promise, Paul. Your life isn't over."

"How do you know?" Paul shook his head.

"I just do," Will rubbed his hand across Paul's shoulders. "I know it seems awful. It feels like everything is falling apart but it isn't. You're more than baseball, Paul."

"I'm not," Paul denied. "That's all I've ever been. That's all I am. And now I'm nothing."

"That isn't true," Will pushed. "Since I've known you how many times have we actually talked about baseball? A handful, Paul, and we've spent hours together. You're not just baseball. You're so much more than baseball."

Paul sniffled, sitting up to look Will in the eyes.

"Yeah?" Paul asked, desperate.

"Of course," Will confirmed.

Paul blinked away his tears.

"Thanks," Paul stated.

Will realized how close they suddenly were. Too close.

Paul licked his lips, tasting his salty tears.

"Will," Paul said, leaning forward.

Knock Knock Knock

"Room service," Derrick, the bellboy, called.

"I-I should get that," Will moved away from Paul.

'Oh god, what was that?' Will thought as he opened the door. 'What was that?'

Derrick's smile slid off his face when Will answered instead of Paul.

"Can you just put it over there?" Will requested.

"Sure," Derrick glanced at Paul.

Paul covered his face with his hands again. He didn't want Derrick to see him so vulnerable.

"Hey," Will moved over to Paul. He barely gave Derrick a second glance. "Why don't you go get in the shower? I can get everything together here."

"Okay," Paul nodded before slinking off into the bathroom.

"So," Derrick looked Will over. He recognized him from the first time Derrick let him into Paul's room.

"Thank you," Will said to Derrick, unaware of the scrutiny. "Oh, I guess you want a tip."

Will dug around in his pocket for some cash.

"No," Derrick shook his head. "I'm fine."

"Oh, then you can go," Will frowned. He wondered why the bellboy was just standing there.

"Right," Derrick rolled his eyes slightly. 'First that brunette guy and now this one. He certainly gets around for being so closeted.'

'Weird,' Will shook his head.

Pulling out his phone, Will googled the correct way to make green tea. He knew it wasn't going to be the greatest but he was determined to try his best.

As the tea was steeping, Will noticed a message from Sonny.

-What are you doing today?

-Working on my article

-Any idea when that's going to be finished? You've been working on it forever

-Not sure. Still trying to find my story

-Sorry about today. Raincheck for tonight?

-YES!

-I love you, Will. I promise

-Love you too

"Hey," Paul opened the bathroom door. "I didn't think you'd stay."

"I said I would," Will locked his phone. As he looked up he halted, eyes wide.

Paul was only wearing a towel. Water droplets slid down his chest, disappearing into his towel.

"Good," Paul smiled.

The shower felt good, refreshing. It cleared Paul's head. He was still distraught but it seemed manageable now.

'If I have Will around,' Paul thought. Will's reaction to his state of undress wasn't lost on Paul.

Daringly, Paul dropped his towel.

Will quickly looked away.

'Stop staring,' Will closed his eyes. 'What the hell is wrong with you?'

"So," Paul tried not to laugh, fully dressed. "What do you have for me?"

"What?" Will's head shot up, mouth open.

"What did you order?" Paul rephrased.

"Um, I tried, it's probably really bad," Will explained in a rush. "Um, some green tea. You said it was comforting."

"It is," Paul sat down at the table. "Thank you."

"I just wanted to help," Will shrugged with a helpless smile.

"You do help," Paul reached across the table to grab Will's hand. "In so many ways," Paul's thumb slid across Will's wrist.

"Oh," Will froze.

"Thank you for being here today," Paul continued. "You're…something else."

"You're welcome," Will replied, scared.

"Will," Paul's thumb stilled over Will's racing pulse. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you. Something that I know I can trust you with now."

"Paul," Will tried to pull his hand away.

"Will," Paul pressed his lips together. "Will, I-,"

Ring Ring Ring

Will's phone went off loudly, startling them both.

Looking down, Will noticed the name.

"It's Zoe," Will revealed. "I-I need to take this."

"Right," Paul let go of Will's hand. "Of course."

"H-hello?" Will said into the phone.

"Will," Zoe replied in a clipped tone. "It's been forever and I haven't heard anything about our Narita article. What's been happening?"

"I've been working on it," Will maintained. "I-I'm with him now."

Paul lifted an eyebrow at Will.

"Hi, Zoe!" Paul yelled.

"I see," Zoe sighed. "Any idea when it's going to be finished?"

"No," Will answered honestly. "I'm not sure."

"Well, I want it soon, Will," Zoe said directly. "At least a rough draft."

"I-I'll try to send you something," Will responded.

"Wait, Will," Zoe said before he could hang up. "About the article. I want it to be…revealing."

Will frowned.

"Okay," Will gave Paul a strange look. "I'll talk to you later."

"What was that about?" Paul wondered.

"I'm not really sure," Will evaded. He had a pretty good idea what Zoe wanted.

'I can't write that,' Will decided. 'I don't care what Zoe wants.'

"I think I need to go," Will told Paul. "I need to actually work on your article."

"You can't do that here?" Paul pressed. He wasn't ready to be alone.

"You're too distracting," Will shook his head. "I won't be able to write."

Paul smiled, flattered.

"I think you should call and talk with your mom anyway," Will suggested. He found his coat. "Tell her what happened. From what you told me, she'll understand."

"Right," Paul frowned. He nearly forgot what happened.

"Call me later, if you need me?" Will told Paul.

"I will," Paul smiled. "If nothing else, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Paul," Will walked out the hotel room door as fast as he could without running.

"How's your mouth?" Will asked Ari, taking a break from typing.

Ari opened her mouth wide, showing Will her new tooth.

"It'll probably stop hurting soon," Will assured her. "You're getting so big."

Ari smiled proudly.

"Okay, Daddy is going to type and Ari is going to play," Will pressed his forehead against Ari's.

Ari nodded and ran to her pile of toys.

Will sat in front of his laptop, biting his lip. Everything he wrote about Paul wasn't coming out right.

'I just need to get over myself and write,' Will closed his eyes. 'Stop thinking about what happened and write.'

Will glanced at the clock and the lone plate on the table.

Sonny was late. Ari was already fast asleep. Will wasn't far off either.

But Will was determined to stay awake and see his husband. It had been far too long since they had any time together. That morning proved just how disconnected they really were.

'Everything that's happening with Paul wouldn't happen if I could spend more time with Sonny. I'm just projecting onto Paul. That's all it is.'

'Aunt Kayla doesn't know what she's talking about.' Will closed his eyes, resting on the couch. 'I'm fine.'

"Wake up, beautiful," a voice murmured in Will's ear.

Will opened his eyes and smiled.

"You're here," Will sighed. "Finally."

"I wouldn't be anywhere else" Sonny promised.

"Come on, Will," Sonny urged. "Come to bed."

Will let two strong hands pull him towards the bedroom and push him onto the bed.

"Love you," Sonny told Will.

"L've too," Will mumbled, drifting off to sleep.

Author's note:

Let me know what you thought.

Thanks for reading!